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Palm Springs museums offer cultural enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy exhibits that mostly revolve around art and history. Complementing the art and history museums is the Palm Springs Air Museum, and should you be interested in side trips while in town, nearby cities offer up museums of their own that deserve a look. Over in La Quinta, for example, there's the La Quinta Museum. This cultural center takes a look at the history of La Quinta and that of the area in general.

For art enthusiasts who are visiting the Palm Springs area, there is at least one museum that is not to be missed. The Palm Springs Art Museum, which was formerly known as the Palm Springs Desert Museum, boasts a fine collection, especially for those who are interested in Native American art and Western art. It's not all about the art at the wonderful Palm Springs Art Museum, however. Various Mesoamerican artifacts are on display, and there's even an area that is dedicated to the desert region's natural history. Only adding to the allure of the Palm Springs Art Museum is the Annenberg Theater. This state-of-the-art theater hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including lectures and plays.

When looking for good museums to visit while in the Palm Springs area, you might add the Palm Springs Air Museum to your list. Found on the Palm Springs International Airport's north side, this excellent museum focuses on WWII aircraft and the history of this war in general. Among the airplanes that are on display are a Grumman F4F Wildcat, a McDonnell Douglas F4 Phantom, and a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon. On certain days, flight demonstrations allow Palm Springs Air Museum visitors to see some of the planes in action. Guided tours can be arranged.

There are lots of fun things to do in Palm Springs, but for history buffs, one of the best is a trip to the Palm Springs Historical Society. This museum focuses on Palm Springs history on the whole and is comprised of two pioneer homes that date back to the 1800s. You can find these homes on The Village Green, which is set among the other attractions on Palm Canyon Drive. These other attractions, should you be wondering, include a variety of shops and restaurants. The general admission fees for the Palm Springs Historical Society are nominal, and kids get in free with an adult.

These are the most established Palm Springs museums, but they aren't the only ones that deserve some consideration while in the area. As is true of the Palm Springs Historical Society, the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum calls Palm Canyon Drive's The Village Green area home. The native Cahuilla Indians, who have lived in the Palm Springs area for hundreds of years, are the focus of this museum, and their story is told through a variety of artifacts and other exhibit pieces. For a different experience, you might check out the history museum that can be found at the Palm Springs Tramway Mountain Station. This museum focuses on natural history and the history of the tramway. Among the highlights is the short film that covers the history of the tramway itself.